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==Human Sacrifice==

==Human Sacrifice==

The Aztecs have become somewhat infamous in the modern era for their religious practice of human sacrifice. Before the arrival of the first European Christians to encounter the civilization, human sacrifice was very profound in Aztec civilization. At the sanctification of the Great Pyramid of Tenochtitlán in 1487 for example, surviving Aztec codicies (texts) puts one specific sacrifice at 20,000 individuals over four days. Aztecs believed that their gods required nourishment to keep the world in balance and human blood was the highest form of sacrifice the Aztec could offer.

The Aztecs have become somewhat infamous in the modern era for their religious practice of human sacrifice. Before the arrival of the first European Christians to encounter the civilization, human sacrifice was very profound in Aztec civilization. At the sanctification of the Great Pyramid of Tenochtitlán in 1487 for example, surviving Aztec codicies (texts) puts one specific sacrifice at 20,000 individuals over four days. Aztecs believed that their gods required nourishment to keep the world in balance and human blood was the highest form of sacrifice the Aztec could offer.

==Spanish Conquest==

==Spanish Conquest==

The Aztec empire was conquered however at the height of its glory by Spanish conquistador [[Hernán Cortés]]. Cortés of arrived at [[Veracruz]], Mexico in 1519, in search of rumors of [[gold]]. Cortés led an army of [[conquistadores]] ([[Spanish language|Spanish]] for 'conquerors') on a march towards the Aztec capital of [[Tenochtitlán]]. The Aztecs famously believed Cortés and the Spaniards to be their god Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent, who had proclaimed that he would one day return to rule the empire. After being received into the city by the Aztec Emperor [[Moctezuma II]], Cortés and his men witnessed a bloody sacrifice ritual. Horrified by a display the Spaniards considered to be barbaric, the Spaniards proceeded to attack the Aztec priests. The Aztecs revolted and expelled the occupying conquistadors in what came to be known as [[La Noche Trieste]] (the sad night). During the struggle many conquistadors were killed. The empire however, was then stricken with an epidemic of smallpox which was brought over by the Spanish and which the Aztecs had no immunity to. Cortés regrouped, and by 1521 he had conquered the entire empire after the [[siege of Tenochtitlán]] which lasted 75 days. Unfortunately, Cortés and his men burned thousands of manuscripts in the Aztec library in what is now Mexico City in the belief that they were the work of the Devil.

The Aztec empire was conquered however at the height of its glory by Spanish conquistador [[Hernán Cortés]]. Cortés of arrived at [[Veracruz]], Mexico in 1519, in search of rumors of [[gold]]. Cortés led an army of [[conquistadores]] ([[Spanish language|Spanish]] for 'conquerors') on a march towards the Aztec capital of [[Tenochtitlán]]. The Aztecs famously believed Cortés and the Spaniards to be their god Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent, who had proclaimed that he would one day return to rule the empire. After being received into the city by the Aztec Emperor [[Moctezuma II]], Cortés and his men witnessed a bloody sacrifice ritual. Horrified by a display the Spaniards considered to be barbaric, the Spaniards proceeded to attack the Aztec priests. The Aztecs revolted and expelled the occupying conquistadors in what came to be known as [[La Noche Trieste]] (the sad night). During the struggle many conquistadors were killed. The empire however, was then stricken with an epidemic of smallpox which was brought over by the Spanish and which the Aztecs had no immunity to. Cortés regrouped, and by 1521 he had conquered the entire empire after the [[siege of Tenochtitlán]] which lasted 75 days. Unfortunately, Cortés and his men burned thousands of manuscripts in the Aztec library in what is now Mexico City in the belief that they were the work of the Devil.

== See also ==

== See also ==

* [[Precolumbian Civilizations]]

* [[Precolumbian Civilizations]]

*[[XIPE TOTEC]]

*[[XIPE TOTEC]]

== External links ==

== External links ==

*[http://www.indians.org/welker/aztec.htm The Aztecs/Mexicas.]

*[http://www.indians.org/welker/aztec.htm The Aztecs/Mexicas.]

*[http://www.indians.org/welker/nahuatl.htm The Náhuatl Language of the Aztecs.]

*[http://www.indians.org/welker/nahuatl.htm The Náhuatl Language of the Aztecs.]

[[Category:Mexican History]]

[[Category:Mexican History]]